It needs no rocket scientist to conclude that dowry cases which directly affect a woman and her family must be treated most seriously and addressed on a war footing to ensure that the offenders are brought to book at the earliest! We see that it is in this context that the Supreme Court, in a most commendable move, issued ten key directions in the learned, laudable, landmark, logical and latest judgement titled The State of Uttar Pradesh v. Ajmal Beg Etc. in Misc. Application Nos. 2689-90 of 2025 in (Crl. Appeal Nos. 132-133 of 2017) that was pronounced on the exercise of its criminal appellate jurisdiction as of August 20, 2026, and has directed courts and governments to take several measures to speed up trials in dowry-related cases and improve enforcement of laws pertaining to dowry deaths and cruelty against women, which definitely deserves the strictest punishment.

It needs to be noted that the key directions came while the Apex Court was monitoring compliance with its December 2025 judgement in State of Uttar Pradesh v. Ajmal Beg, in which it had highlighted the continued prevalence of dowry and called for steps to improve enforcement of the law.

Supreme Court Issues Ten Key Directions in Dowry Cases

These ten key directions covered:

• Institutional support
• Awareness
• Monitoring of cases
• Trial timelines
• Adjournments
• Technology
• High Court reviews
• Training
• Periodic compliance reporting

Background Of The Ajmal Beg Judgement

At the very outset, this brief, brilliant, bold and balanced judgement authored by a bench of the Apex Court comprising Hon’ble Mr Justice Sanjay Karol and Hon’ble Mr Justice Augustine George Masih sets the ball in motion by first and foremost putting forth in para 1 that,

“This Court vide judgment dated 15.12.2025 passed in State of U.P. v. Ajmal Beg [Criminal Appeal Nos. 132-133 of 2017], while allowing the said appeals and restoring the judgment of trial court convicting the appellants under section 304-B and 498-A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, (corresponding Sections 80 and 85 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023) noted that while in this case, the accused person(s) has finally been brought to book, there are many cases in which it is not happen.

Many, who openly seek and give dowry, go scot-free. It has been noted time and again, in various judicial pronouncements that Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 suffers from various difficulties in its implementation.

This Court further, acknowledged that when it comes to the giving and taking of dowry in particular, this practice unfortunately has deep roots in society, hence, it being not a matter of swift change, a concentrated effort is needed on the part of all the involved parties, be it Legislature, Judiciary, law enforcement agencies, civil society organizations etc.

Therefore, to address the systemic delay and ineffective implementation attending prosecutions under Section 304-B and Section 498-A, IPC and the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 following directions were issued:

Directions To Further The Change

26. With an intent to further this change, we issue the following directions: -

Educational Curriculum And Awareness

(a) To ensure that the change brought in is able to make an impact on the efforts to eradicate this evil, it is to be ensured that the future generation, youngsters of today, are informed and made aware about this evil practice and the necessity to eschew it. As such, it is directed that States and even the Union Government consider changes as are necessary to the educational curricula across levels, reinforcing the constitutional position that parties to a marriage are equal to one another and one is not subservient to the other as is sought to be established by giving and taking of money and/or articles at the time of marriage;

Dowry Prohibition Officers

(b) The law provides for the appointment of Dowry Prohibition Officers⁴⁰ in States. It is to be ensured that these officers are duly deputed, aware of their responsibilities and given the necessary wherewithal to carry out the duties entrusted to them. The contact details (name, official phone number and email ID) of such an officer designated to this position are disseminated adequately by the local authorities, ensuring awareness of citizens of the area;

Training Of Police And Judicial Officers

(c) The police officials, as also the judicial officers dealing with such cases, should periodically be given training, equipping them to fully appreciate the social and psychological implications which are often at the forefront of these cases. This would also ensure a sensitivity of the concerned officials towards genuine cases versus those which are frivolous and abusive of the process of law;

Expeditious Disposal Of Pending Cases

(d) It is not lost on us that the instant case began in 2001 and could only be concluded 24 years later by way of this judgement. It is but obvious that there would be many such similar cases. The High Courts are requested to take stock of the situation, ascertain the number of cases pending dealing with Section 304-B and 498-A from the earliest to the latest for expeditious disposal, and

Grassroot-Level Awareness Programmes

(e) In furtherance of (a) above, we also recognise that many people today are/have been outside the education fold, and that it is equally, if not more so, important to reach them and make accessible and comprehensible the relevant information regarding the act of giving or taking of dowry as also other acts sometimes associated therewith; other times independent thereof (mental and physical cruelty) is an offence in law. The District Administration, along with the District Legal Services Authorities, by engaging and involving civil society groups and dedicated social activists, is requested to conduct workshops/awareness programmes at regular intervals. This is to ensure change at the grassroots level.

Circulation And Compliance Of The Judgement

27. Let a copy of this judgement be circulated electronically to the Registrar General of the High Courts, who are requested to place the same before the Learned Chief Justices and solicit directions in accordance with the above, and also to the Chief Secretaries of all States for necessary follow-up action.

27.1 While the main appeals are disposed of, so far as these directions are concerned, to ensure compliance thereof, also issue any other directions as may be necessary, and list this matter after four weeks. States are requested to file affidavits indicating the position qua the direction given under (b) hereinabove. The High Courts shall do the same for (d).”

Affidavits and Consolidated Analysis

It would be worthwhile to note that the Bench notes in para 2 that "Pursuant to the aforesaid directions, affidavits and data have been filed by several High Courts, States and Union Territories." We have heard the learned counsel appearing for the States and, in particular, Mr Kunal Chatterji, learned counsel, who has assisted this Court by placing on record a consolidated analysis of the affidavits/data so filed, along with suggestions received from the High Courts, States and Union Territories, and a set of proposed directions for the consideration of this Court.”

Cornerstone Of The Notable Judgement

Most significantly, most commendably, and so also most remarkably, the Bench encapsulates in para 3 what constitutes the cornerstone of this notable judgement, postulating precisely that, “Having considered the material placed before us and the submissions advanced, we now proceed to pass the following directions:

i. Strengthening Of Institutional Support Mechanisms

States and Union Territories shall ensure effective functioning and dissemination of information regarding Dowry Prohibition Officers appointed/designated under the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, and shall strengthen:

• One Stop Centres,
• Family Counselling Centres,
• Women Help Desks,
• victim assistance mechanisms,
• helplines, and
• online grievance redressal systems for facilitating access to support and legal remedies for aggrieved women.

ii. Awareness and Educational Measures

States and Union Territories, in coordination with Departments of Education, Women and Child Development Departments, State Legal Services Authorities and other appropriate bodies, shall undertake sustained awareness and sensitisation programmes concerning:

• the social evil of dowry,
• gender equality,
• constitutional values,
• and women’s rights, including through educational curricula, awareness campaigns, community outreach programmes and legal literacy initiatives.

iii. Priority Classification And Monitoring Of Cases

All courts dealing with offences under Sections 304B and 498A IPC/Sections 80 and 85 BNS, 2023 shall, as far as practicable, treat such matters as priority cases and endeavour to ensure expeditious disposal thereof, without adversely affecting the hearing of other categories of cases. The concerned District Judiciary shall identify cases pending beyond three years, particularly those pending at the stage of framing of charge or recording of evidence, and undertake periodic monitoring thereof through monthly or quarterly review mechanisms.

iv. Time-Bound Progression Of Trial

All trial courts shall endeavour, as far as practicable and subject to compliance with statutory safeguards under the CrPC/BNSS, to:

• secure prompt appearance of accused expeditiously after filing of charge sheet;
• Consider framing of charge preferably within 60 to 90 days from filing of charge sheet;
• commence recording of evidence within a reasonable period after framing of charge; and
• Proceed with recording of evidence on a continuous or day-to-day basis in terms of Section 309 CrPC/Section 346 BNSS, 2023.

Provided the timelines indicated herein may ordinarily be adhered to as directory benchmarks, subject to exceptional cases involving multiple accused, supplementary charge sheets, forensic delays, non-availability of accused, or other reasons to be recorded.

v. Witness Regulation Of Adjournments And Management/Witness Calendar

a. Trial courts/high courts shall discourage unnecessary adjournments and ensure that adjournments are granted only upon recording reasons in writing. Where counsel for the accused repeatedly remains absent without sufficient cause, appropriate legal aid counsel or amicus curiae may be appointed to ensure that proceedings are not unnecessarily delayed. Additionally, where the Investigating Officer has been transferred or retired, a substitute or holding officer shall be nominated sufficiently in advance to avoid adjournments.

b. Immediately after framing of charge, the Trial Court shall prepare a witness calendar indicating dates for examination of material witnesses, service of summons and sequencing of evidence. This will ensure structured witness management mechanisms, as far as practicable, to secure timely attendance of witnesses and avoid repeated deferment of evidence. Investigating officers shall ensure prompt service of summons and production of witnesses.

vi. Use Of Technology And Digital Monitoring

The High Courts shall endeavour to integrate, within the existing Courts Dashboards/CIS infrastructure:

• stage-wise pendency tracking,
• digital dashboards,
• automated alerts for old pending matters,
• and case monitoring systems in respect of cases arising under Sections 304B and 498A IPC/Sections 80 and 85 BNS.

vii. Review of Pending Matters Before High Courts

All High Courts shall endeavour to periodically review old pending criminal appeals, revisions, petitions under Section 482 CrPC/Section 528 BNSS, 2023, and bail matters, particularly matters involving interim stay of trial proceedings, and take appropriate steps for their expeditious listing and disposal. Wherever proceedings are stayed, such orders may be periodically reviewed in accordance with law.

viii. Training, Sensitisation and Specialised Prosecution

All States/Union Territories and Hon’ble High Courts shall ensure periodic training and sensitisation programmes for:

• Judicial Officers.
• Police Officials,
• Prosecutors,
• Protection Officers,
• Counsellors, and
• Other stakeholders dealing with dowry-related offences, through judicial academies, police training institutions and other appropriate bodies.

States may also endeavour to designate prosecutors having experience and sensitisation in offences against women for conducting prosecutions under Sections 304B and 498A IPC.

ix. Mediation/Counselling in Appropriate Matrimonial Disputes

In cases arising primarily out of matrimonial discord and not involving allegations of death, grievous physical violence, or other serious offences, the concerned courts may, wherever permissible in law and considered appropriate, explore the possibility of mediation or counselling through duly mediators/counsellors, without compromising the rights of parties or the seriousness of cognisable offences.

x. Compliance and Periodic Reporting

All High Courts and States/Union Territories shall file status/compliance reports on the 15th of January, May and September before this Court for consideration and further directions, if any, until the pendency of cases under Sections 304B and 498A IPC/corresponding Sections 80 and 85 of BNS, 2023 and cases involving the Dowry Prohibition Act 1961 is substantially reduced, indicating, inter alia, the following:

Next Compliance Listing

Do note, the Bench directs and holds in para 4 that "List the cases with compliance-cum-periodic reports on 15th October, 2026.”

Conclusion Of The Directions

Finally, the Bench then concludes by directing and holding in para 5 that "We appreciate the efforts put in by Mr Kunal Chatterji, learned counsel, and learned senior counsel/counsel appearing for the respective parties.”

Sanjeev Sirohi, Advocate,
s/o Col (Retd) BPS Sirohi, A - 82, Defence Enclave,
Sardhana Road, Kankerkhera, Meerut – 250001, Uttar Pradesh.